Definitely Don’t Get a Flu Shot if…

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides guidelines for circumstances under which you should not be vaccinated with the flu shot (or the nasal spray). According to the AAP, you/your child should not get vaccinated if any of the following applies (whether restriction applies to flu shot, nasal spray or both is noted in parentheses):

· Less than 6 months of age (flu shot); less than 5 or older than 49 (nasal spray)

· Moderate to severe febrile (fever) illness (both)

· History of Guillain-Barre’ syndrome (both)

· Hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis, to eggs, to any influenza vaccine dose, or to any of its components (both)

· Asthma, reactive airway disease, or other chronic disorders of the lungs or cardiovascular systems (nasal spray)

· Underlying medical conditions including metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, renal dysfunction, and hemoglobinopathies

· Received other live vaccines within the past four weeks (nasal spray)

· Known or suspected immunodeficiency disease, or receiving immunosuppressive therapies (nasal spray)

· Taking aspirin (nasal spray)

Source: To Your Health